Kishida on Australia trip, Truss resignation

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is headed to Australia on Friday, where he will meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Kishida said he hopes to discuss security and defense, a free and open Indo-Pacific as well as the resource and energy issues during his visit to Perth in Western Australia.
He said he hopes to discuss the direction of future cooperation in his area with Albanese. Australia is Japan's largest supplier of energy such as liquefied natural gas and coal. Kishida spoke of the importance of a stable supply of natural resources and energy in the present and future.
Before leaving Tokyo, Kishida also touched on the importance of relations with the United Kingdom after news overnight of the resignation of Prime Minister Liz Truss. He said Japan must maintain close ties with the UK in regard to Russia's aggression against Ukraine and our cooperation in building a free and open Indo-Pacific.